Catching tuna using one-by-one fishing methods is widely practiced by many small-scale, coastal fisheries around the world. These low-impact fisheries have virtually zero bycatch and minimal impact on the environment and are therefore regarded as the most socially and environmentally responsible way to fish tuna. To recognise and celebrate these fisheries on World Tuna Day, 2nd May 2017, IPNLF shared stories of the one-by-one fishers we work with through a countdown campaign.
Dennis Manuel, Indonesia 2015 © Paul Hilton & IPNLF⠀
“This is my tenth year working on pole-and-line fishing boats. Before this, I was working on a Taiwanese purse-seine boat. I knew that pole-and-line fishing is better for the ecosystem, so I changed jobs. Now I’m a pole-and-line fisher with six children.” – Dennis Manuel (51), Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Ishaq Ali, R. Meedhoo, Maldives © IPNLF
“I have been fishing for around 20 years, and fishing is the main source of income for my family of five. Pole-and-line fishing can be very profitable when there are fish. Sometimes we catch 18 tonnes of fish in a week.” – Ishaq Ali, R. Meedhoo, Raa Atoll, Maldives.
Fijay Baranuntu, Indonesia 2015 © Paul Hilton & IPNLF⠀
“When I’m pole-and-line fishing, I know I’m following in my father’s footsteps. That’s a good feeling.” – Fijay Baranuntu (17), Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Yoosuf © IPNLF
“My father was a fisher, so I became a fisher. Tuna fishing is a job with one of the best incomes in the Maldives. All my children live off the money I earn from fishing. One-by-one tuna fishing is more sustainable for the stock. If you use nets, you catch too many fish at one time and it takes them too long to repopulate.” –Yoosuf, pole-and-line fisher from the Maldives.
Arnold Barauntu, Indonesia 2015 © Paul Hilton & IPNLF
“I’ve been fishing since I was eleven years old and will continue until my body decides to retire. I can feed my family by working as a fisherman. With pole-and-line, we purposefully use hooks that are too big for baby fish, which ensures that we only catch fish that are at least 1 kg.” – Arnold Barauntu (49), Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia⠀
Erwin Limbe, Indonesia 2015 © Paul Hilton & IPNLF⠀
“I started one-by-one fishing when I was nineteen. I mostly fish in the Jaya Bitung area. I love the skill of fishing and being at sea.” – Erwin Limbe (40), Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Please share these stories from one-by-one fishers about responsible tuna fishing and the impact it has on their families, communities and oceans.
